PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court has refused to postpone UP panchayat elections due to Covid surge saying that the state has declared protocol to be adhered during the poll process. Dismissing a PIL seeking the postponement, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery observed, “The state government, while notifying elections in Panchayat Raj Institutions has already declared a protocol to be adhered during the election campaign of the elections. This court has also issued certain directions in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) relating to corona pandemic for the state government to follow during the entire process of elections. All necessary care as such shall be taken by the state government to prevent spread of infection during the course of Panchayat Raj elections. Hence, the PIL is dismissed.”